K-9 veteran “Frenky” is a 10-year-old German shepherd trained in explosive detection and bite work, and after three years away he was reunited with the handler by the American Humane Society (AHS).
The integrated program for the AHS Military Dog (MWD) united Frenkey with his handler, Army Staff Sergeant. Christine Vanderzanden of San Antonio.
They worked together from 2017 to 2021, and K-9 retired in January. Frenkey's first handler was Vanderzanden, who was in office, and the dog was her first K-9.
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Vanderzanden, one of the two drill sergeants in the Army's MWD program, served as a K-9 for nearly four and a half years. Their services include a nine-month battle tour in Afghanistan and a 10-month battle tour in Iraq.
Military K-9 working dog Frenkey was recruited from German garbage by a Department of Defense recruiter before training in the US. (Rick Karn/Getty Images of the American Humane Society)
After encountering a sniper fire and a mortar round in Afghanistan, Frenkey's calm during a mission with several US victims allowed MWD to continue searching for explosives. According to Vanderzanden, the K-9 became something of a mascot for the US Special Forces team due to his “sweet and goofy personality.”
Joining beyond the protocol, Frenkey slept on the floor of Van der Zanden's room during a deployment in Afghanistan instead of a kennel.
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Vanderzanden and Frenky completed 20 Secret Service missions together, protecting the President, First Lady and several foreign officials.
Vanderzanden was reassigned to Fort Drum in upstate New York in 2021, pulling her away from Frenkey. In an interview with AHS, Vanderzanden shared that she was devastating to Fort Johnson, Louisiana, leaving Frenkey, saying it was “like leaving a child behind.”
Army Staff Sergeant. Christine Vanderzanden said Frenkey was her “one true constant” earlier in her Army career. (Rick Karn/Getty Images of the American Humane Society)
Vanderzanden also said that when it was rumoured that she might retire due to old age, she was “musking a bit” to see Frenkey again. Frenkey served as three handlers during his military service, particularly close to Vanderzanden.
The Unification Program was paid for a K-9 trip from Fort Johnson to San Antonio to reunite Vanderzanden and Frenkey.
AHS will also cover all veterinary expenses for the rest of Frenky's life.
The American Humane Society reunited with his former handler, Staff Sergeant, Frenkey, a retired military labor dog. Christine Vanderzanden, February 22nd, San Antonio. (Rick Karn/Getty Images of the American Humane Society)
According to the release, Vanderzanden is excited to give him the opportunity to be a dog, relax on the couch and enjoy being a dog living in a home instead of a kennel.
“Frenkey is an extraordinary dog that has made an invaluable contribution to our country,” Dr. Robin Ganzart, president and CEO of AHS, told Fox News Digital.
“Like his fellow military working dogs, Frenkey is a hero whom we don't even know what we know and appreciate. The American Humane Society was respected for helping him give him the reunion and retirement he deserves.”
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According to the program's website, “The American Humane Society respects the life-saving contributions of all veterans, including military working dogs (MWDs), who risked their lives to serve our country with courage.”
Frenkie joins a mix of other dogs from Vanderzanden, the German shepherd and cow dogs.
